Circle-cycle



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

E. 1. BRANNAN.

CIRCLE CYCLE.

No. 589,408, Patented Sept. 7,1897.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR/ 1 Edward IBW 71/ 4 M By v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

E. I. BRANNAN.

- CIRCLE C-YGL-EL No. 589,408. Patented Sept. 7,1897.

' /v VENTOH Edward [Bra/707mm NITED STATES EDlVARD I. RRNNAN, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

. CIRCLE-YCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,408, dated September '7, 1897. Application filed June 3, 1896. Serial No. 594,138. (No model.) 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD I. BRANNAN, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Circle-Cycle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, which relates to that class of apparatus which includes roundabout-flying horses and the like, more especially refers to improvements on an apparatus patented by me February. 5, 1895, No. 533,838.

My present invention primarily has for its object to simplify the construction of my former invention, whereby the same may be economically manufactured and the parts quickly assembled or disconnectedwhen desired. V

My invention also has for its object to pro vide an apparatus of the kind stated having the radiating or connecting arms so arranged that substantially the ordinary straight or drop bicycle-frame can be detachably secured thereto, so that the rider will have the full advantage and benefit of the pleasure and sensation of regular bicycle-riding.

This invention also seeks to provide a simplified means of connecting the several bicycle-frames to link theminto a continuous circular framework and also to easily and quickly take up the slack or'wear on the drive-chains.

With other objects in view, which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the peculiar combination and arrangement of parts, which will be first described in detail and'then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus, four sections being shown to illustrate, how various forms of bicycle or other carrier frames may be employed. Figs. 3, 4, 5,, and 6 are side elevations illustrating, respectively, the application of the gentlemens, ladies, and tandem wheels, and a carrier or riding frame in the shape of an animal. Fig. 7 is a section of a part of the turn-post and the'means of connecting the radial arms. Fig. Sis a detail view illustrating the manner of connecting the bicyclewheel axles to the radial arms. Fig. 9 illustrates one of the radial arms as forming a continuous member-to receive the. wheels. Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating the chaintightening device. Fig. .11 illustrates 1 the manner of connecting the several frame or carrier sections hereinafterreferred to. Fig. 12 is a section of one of the wheel-hubs and shaft. Fig. 13 is a detail side elevation of the apparatus.

My improvement comprises a'number of sections which may be in the nature of an ordinary bicycle-frame or a carrier-framehaving animal or other shapes, which sections are joined to a central or turn post'by means of radial arms.

Referring now to the drawings by letters of reference, A indicates the central or turn post, the construction of which is most clearly shown in Fig. 7, by reference to which it will be seen thatsuch post has a threadedrportion a, on which is secured for vertical adjustment.

a bearing-collar B, the outer face of which may be made non-circular to receive a wrench for turning, while the upper or bearing face is grooved, as at b, to receive bearing-balls 0. Upon the upperend of the post A'are fitted bushings D and E,having ball bearing grooves d and e at their meeting ends to receive the balls F, which are held in place by the bearinglining G, fixedly secured to the hub g of the turn plate or wheel G, which hub g has a groove 9 for the ball-bearings, as shown.

The outer or peripheral edge of the wheel Gr has a series of' threaded sockets 9 in which the inner threaded ends of the radial arms or rods H are screwed. These arms H, a pair of which is employed for each section-that is, each bicycle. frameor carriage has a pair of such arms connected therewith-are preferably connected by means of union-couplings I with the threaded extensions j j of the shafts J andJ of the front and rear wheels, such shafts having suitable ball-bearing connections with the hubs J 2 of the said wheels, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. While I prefer to connect the said arms H with the wheel-shafts in the manner above described and shown in Fig. 12, it is manifest the union-coupling members may be dispensed with and such arms H made of a suitable length to pass through the hubs of the several wheels, held in the sameradial line, as shown in Fig. 9. I11

the latter construction suitable stop or adj usting collars are provided to hold the wheels to their desired position on the said arms II.

It will be noticed by reference to the drawings that to each arm II is connected a plurality of bicycle or carrier frames, three being'shown, such frames having their wheels of a proportionately-decreased size, the outer wheels having the largest diameter and the inner ones the smallest, the decline being indicated by the broken line in Fig. 13, such arrangement being provided to accommodate different-sized riders and yet provide for uniform rotation of all the wheels at each complete rotation about the turn-post, it being, however,obvious that,if desired,all the wheels in each radial series may be of the same diameter and have a trackway having a uniform horizontal plane.

If desired, a central arm or arms H (see dotted lines in Fig. 13) may be provided to engage the carrier-frames and incline them inward from the central post, so as to form a suitable stay to prevent the upper parts of the carrier-frame springing outward from centrifugal force.

By connecting the arms II to the turn-post wheel G in the manner shown and providing means whereby such wheel can be set up or down on the post it is obvious that by providing the said arms H with a knuckle-joint h (see Fig. 13) such vertical adjustment of the wheel G will cause the said arms H to assume a horizontal or inclined position and in consequence cause the carrier-frames to incline correspondingly inward to overcome the outward or tangential motion.

Instead of providing the arms with a joint 71 and making the collar and wheel G vertically movable such parts may be made'to remain in a fixed horizontal plane and the arms II made radially adjustable to incline the carrier-frames inward at the top.

The wheels of the several carrier-frames may have the ordinary pneumatic or other yielding tire and made to engage a solid trackway. IVhen such wheels have a solid tire, I prefer to provide a trackway having a yielding bearing-face, as shown in my other patent.

The ends of the shafts of the several wheels in each carriage-frame are threaded and projected to receive the coupling K, which have threaded extensions 7a to receive the right and left threaded union-couplings L, which also connect with the ends of the tubular drop-frames M, which connect the several wheel-sections, as clearly shown, and form all the corner or wheel sections into a continuous circular wheeled carriage.

As the several bicycle or carrier frames have the ordinary chain and drive-gear mechanism, and as I prefer on account of strength and economy of construction to make the rear portion M of the bicycle-frame in which the rear or drive wheel is journaled of a continuous tubing, bent as shown at m, J provide a simple chain-tightening means the constrnction of which is clearly shown in Fig. 10, by reference to which it will be seen that in the crotch of the frame-section M is disposed a supplemental frame member N, which may be brazed or otherwise secured to the tubing, which plate has a flat bearing-face, the front and lower ends of which terminate in a turnedup edge or stop portion a n, which end is also formed with a slotway n for the insertion of the wheeled shaft, which slot at merges with a horizontally-disposed curved (preferably semicircular) slot 12 0 indicates a tightening-washer, which has a single aperture 0 disposed eccentrically therein, such washer having a number of flat bearing-faces, such washer in practice being preferably of octagonal shape.

It will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 10 that by turning the washer in the direction indicated by arrow 10 the wheelshaft will be forced rearward (see arrow 20) in the slot 01 and held to such position by the edges of the washer engaging the stop portion 01 n. I

Vhile I have not shown it in the drawings, it is manifest that supplemental seats may be supported on the frame portions between the sections, being suitably braced to firmly stay the several sections together, which may be used by inexperienced riders. Furthermore, if desired the horizontal frame-bars R of the bicycle-frames may also be extended forward and connect with the front fork to add rigidity to the framing.

It is manifest that other drive-gear mechanism than chain and gear devices may be used for applying power.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus as described, the combination with the trackway, and the wheeled carrier-frames, of the turnpost, having. a vertically-adjustable turn-plate or wheel and the radial arms connected at the outer ends to the carrier-frames and at the inner to the 3. In an apparatus as described, the combination with the turn-post, the radial arms and the wheeled carriages, having the outer ends of the wheel-shafts extended and threaded at each side of the wheels, of the dropframe connections having their ends threaded the coupling devices secured to the projecting ends of the wheel-shafts and disposed longitudinally of the carrier-frames and the union members for joining the coupling devices with the ends of the connecting-frames all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

4. In an apparatus as described, the combination with the bicycle-framing, having a slotted bearing member for the rear wheelaxle, said slotted member having a horizontally-disposed curved sect-ion, said member having stop portions, of the wheel-axle, and thenon-cir0ular washer having its opening arranged eccentric and its edges adapted to engage the stop portions of the frame all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a turn -post, carrierframes radial arms connecting the frames with the post and capable of vertical adjustment on the latter, and the stay-rods extending from the post to the frames and provided at their inner-ends with knuckle-joints, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of the threaded turn-post,

EDWARD I. BRANNAN.

\Vitnesses:

FRED G. DIETERIGH, J. EDW. LUcKETT. 

